Multi-colored vehicle rear lamp

ABSTRACT

A lamp for the rear of a vehicle is disclosed with a light transmissive cover having a red first illuminated surface area and a clear second illuminated surface area. It has a first LED light emitter located directly beneath the red first area, a second LED light emitter located directly beneath the clear second area, and a third LED light emitter, also located directly beneath said clear second area. The third red LED light emitter is for emitting red light through the clear second area simultaneously with light transmitted through the red first area, whereby the first and second areas are adapted to collectively form a contiguous red illuminated surface area.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to lamps, an more specifically to suchlamps used on the rear of vehicles.

Rear lamps on vehicles are governed by regulations, in the U.S. andother countries. These include, for example in the U.S.A., 49 C.F.R.Sec. 571. These may generally include one or more requirements regardingcandela, illuminated surface area, placement, and other attributes,normally grouped by various function or location. The Federal MotorVehicle Safety Standard, FMVSS 108, in Part 571.108 of the Code ofFederal Regulation Title 49, specify that vehicles over 2032 mm wide arerequired to have stop lamp with a lens area (Effective ProjectedLuminous Lens Area (EPLLA)) of at least 75 square centimeters. Othervehicles EPLLA requirements vary. The area for cars need be at least 59square centimeters. A circular stop lamp used on a large trailer todaywill be approximately 10 cm in diameter or about 78.5 square cm of area.This may be met, for example, with a standard nominal 4 inch or 10 cmdiameter circular lamp, meaning the housing is also circular and has adiameter of about ten (10) centimeters (or about 4 to 4½ inches), orwith an oval shaped lamp, meaning that the housing is also oval. Thesize and shape of such oval housing may vary, but a typical example maybe an oval with dimensions of about 2½ inches tall and about 6¾ incheswide. As shown here it is desirable to meet illuminated surface arearequirements or goals while providing an arrangement that is more spaceefficient. Various stop-tail-turn (STT) lamps used LEDs with a largelamp with separate cavities or other areas, such as one cavity for theSTT functions and another for other functions, such as a dedicated whiteLED backup light. Other LED STT lamps use additive chromatic effects toalter color patterns. Also, separate dedicated lamps, such as separatewhite LED back-up (or reverse) lamps, have been used. While eachapproach has various pros and cons, they do not provide the arrangementsand advantages of the present claimed designs.

Thus, there is a need for improvement in this field.

SUMMARY

The invention is set forth by the claims and only the claims. Generally,it can be summarized as a lamp for the rear of a vehicle with a lighttransmissive cover having a red first illuminated surface area and aclear second illuminated surface area. The lamp includes, but is notlimited to, is a first LED light emitter located directly beneath thered first area. There also is included a white second LED light emitterlocated directly beneath the clear second area. Also, there is includeda third red LED light emitter, also located directly beneath said clearsecond area. The third red LED light emitter for emitting red lightthrough the clear second area simultaneously with light transmittedthrough there red first area, whereby the first and second areas areadapted to collectively form a contiguous red illuminated surface area.

The invention solves the problem of meeting illuminated surface arearequirements or goals while providing an arrangement that is more spaceefficient. It also may provide greater flexibility for lamp design whilemeeting standards, with such flexibility being available for variedand/or improved aesthetic design. Further forms, objects, features,aspects, benefits, advantages, and embodiments of the present inventionwill become apparent from the detailed description and drawings providedherewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a rear elevation view (when mounted) of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view (albeit hidden when mounted) of a firstembodiment.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a first embodiment, symmetrically showing thetop and bottom plan view when mounted.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a first embodiment, symmetricallyshowing the right and left elevation view when mounted.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of a first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a full sectional view of a first embodiment taken along a Z-Xplane.

FIG. 7 is an exploded top perspective view of a first embodiment.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are a rear elevation view of a second embodiment.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are a rear elevation view of a third embodiment.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are a elevation plan view of a fourth embodiment.

FIGS. 11A-E are conceptual diagrams of example of lightingconfigurations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SELECTED EMBODIMENTS

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated inthe drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. Itwill nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of theinvention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modificationsin the described embodiments, and any further applications of theprinciples of the invention as described herein are contemplated aswould normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates. One embodiment of the invention is shown in greater detail,although it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art thatsome features that are not relevant to the present invention may not beshown for the sake of clarity.

Referring to FIGS. 1-11E, some examples of the invention are shown. Notethat one such example, as shown in FIGS. 1-5, illustrates an ornamentaldesign for a vehicle lamp as shown. In that regard, optionally portionsof the “front” of such lamp installed lamp (FIG. 2) may be shown inphantom lines, being normally out of sight when that portion of thatlamp is mounted on a vehicle.

Various examples are shown with similar reference figures, but with thehundred's digit prefix otherwise varied. Hence, in the drawings FIGS.1-7 show lamp 100, FIGS. 8A and 8B show lamp 200, FIGS. 9A and 9B showlamp 300, and FIGS. 10A and 10B show lamp 400. Otherwise, the referencecharacters in the ten's and one's digits, when the same, are the same orsimilar. These illustrate, a lamp 100, 200, 300, 400 for the rear of avehicle (not shown). The lamp includes a light transmissive cover havinga first illuminated surface area 1, 101, 201, 301, 401 and a secondilluminated surface area 2, 102, 202, 302, 402. The first area of thecover is light transmissive and red in color. There is one or more firstLED light emitter 110, 210, 310, 410 located directly beneath the firstarea of the cover. Normally, one or more such first light emitters isred in color, but other optional colors, such as white, or colorcombinations are optional.

The second area 2, 102, 202, 302, 402 of the cover is also lighttransmissive and is clear in color. Moreover, there is one or moresecond light emitter 120, 220, 320, 420 located directly beneath theclear second area. The second light emitter comprises an LED that emitswhite light. Alternatively, the second light emitter may comprise anemitter, such as an LED, that emits amber light, such as for exampleupon the activation of a turn indicator.

Additionally, one or more third light emitter 130, 230, 330, 430 locateddirectly beneath the clear second area. The third light emitter emittingcomprises an LED for emitting red light through the clear second areasimultaneously with light transmitted through the red first area,whereby the first and second areas are adapted to collectively form acontiguous red illuminated surface area. The lamp does not have motorsor moving parts. The covers, and their first and second areas, and theLEDs are fixed and non-movable.

FIGS. 11A-E show, conceptually, some various illumination combinations.These are not the only possible combinations, and merely are examples.The reference character convention therein has power source, P₁, P₂, P₃,such as electricity and/or their controller(s). When such power sourceis activated, in FIGS. 11A-D, it is shown encircled. Upon activation,one or more of the light emitters, L₁, L₂, L₃, such as LEDs, emit light.Cover 1 (red) and cover 2 (clear) are shown, covering in the Z-axis, thevarious light emitters. Upon activation, one or more of the lightemitters, L₁, L₂, L₃, cause red light R₁, red light R₃, and/or whitelight W₁, to be emitted from the lamp. Alternatively, white light W₁ maybe substituted with (or also have in addition) an amber light (notshown). For example, the shading of the first area and/or the secondarea, in FIGS. 8A-10B, indicate red light emitted from that area. Thus,for example, the conceptually illumination shown in FIG. 11A correspondsto the red illuminated shading of only first red areas 201, 301 and 401in FIGS. 8A, 9A and 10A, respectively. And, for example, theconceptually illumination shown in FIGS. 11D and/or 11E corresponds tothe red illuminated shading of both first red areas 201, 301 and 401 aswell as red light from second clear areas 202, 302 and 402 in FIGS. 8B,9B and 10B, respectively.

While the example of FIGS. 1-7 shows six first light emitters (three oneach of two sides), two second (white) light emitters, and two third(red) light emitters, more or less of each may be used. Also, there maybe more than one red first area(s) and/or more than one second cleararea(s) of the cover of the lamp. Also, other non-LED light emitters,such as incandescent bulbs or other devices that emit light may besubstituted, although the preferred designs use LEDs.

Optionally, the lamp is a stop-tail-turn lamp for a vehicle and whereinthe sum of the first illuminated surface area 101, 201, 301, 401 and thesecond illuminated surface area 102, 202, 302, 402 is at least fifty(50) square centimeters, and more preferably is at least seventy-five(75) square centimeters and less than 100 square centimeters, and morepreferably is less than 85 square centimeters. However, other collectiveilluminated surface areas are possible, per 49 C.F.R. §571.108, such asfor a stop lamp for a motorcycle at least 5000 square millimeters (andpreferably, but optionally, less than 8,000 square millimeters). Forother vehicles less than 2032 millimeters in overall width, for stoplights in a single or combined compartment light, the collectiveilluminated surface area preferably is at least 5000 square millimeters(and preferably, but optionally, less than 8,000 square millimeters).

Optionally, the various emitters are activated upon one or more variousevents. For example, optionally the lamp may have the white second lightemitter 120, 220, 320, 420 is activated upon the vehicle being placed inreverse. Optionally, although not normally, the red third light emitter130, 230, 330, 430 may be de-activated upon the vehicle being placed inreverse. Preferably, however, such second and third light emitters areon concurrently (see e.g. FIG. 11E). Also, optionally, the red thirdlight emitter 130, 230, 330, 430 is activated upon the vehicle braking.More commonly, however, as discussed below regarding light intensity,the first and third emitters, both normally red, are both activated intail lamp mode, and are still activated, but emit brighter light, duringbraking or stop mode. Likewise, even if the headlamps are off and/or thefirst and third lamps are otherwise not in tail lamp mode, duringbraking or stop mode preferably they are activated and of the brighter,stop lamp, intensity.

Optionally, the lamp may comprises a fourth light emitter (not shown)located directly beneath the clear second area 2, 102, 202, 302, 402and, wherein the fourth light emitter comprises an LED that emits amberlight. This may be used for a flasher and/or turn signal, emitting lightfrom the clear second area. For example, the amber LED is in that caseactivated upon the corresponding turn signal (left or right) beingactivated.

A variety of shapes and sizes (in addition to the area ranges above) ofthe lamp are possible. For example, optionally, the lamp is shaped froma group consisting of: a circle (including optionally a circle with adiameter of about 10 centimeters)(FIGS. 8A, 8B, 10A, 10B); and, an oval(FIGS. 1-7, and in particular FIG. 1). It may be square, elliptical,rectangular (FIGS. 9A and 9B), irregular, or otherwise. Typically, thelamp will have a housing, such as housing 106, and one or more circuitboards, such as circuit board 107.

Optionally, the lamp has no reflector(s), such as for example, parabolicreflector(s), and no barrier wall(s) between the first light emitter(s)and the third light emitter(s) (see e.g. FIGS. 6, 7 and 11A-E).Optionally, not having such reflector(s) and/or walls may pertain asbetween the first and second light emitter(s) and/or between the secondand third emitter(s). The reverse is also true in that, optionally, onemay include reflector(s) and/or barrier walls between any of suchcombination(s) of light emitters.

Optionally, the lamp may be a single compartment lamp or may be amultiple compartment lamp.

Also, optionally the intensity of the various emitted light(s) may bevaried. For example, the red light from area 101, 201, 301, 401 (and/orfrom area 102, 202, 302, 402) may be lower intensity in tail light mode,when the vehicle head lamps are activated, and higher intensity whenbraking. The red first light emitter and the red third light emitter mayoptionally each be activated upon the vehicle head lamps beingactivated. Also, the red first light emitter and the red third lightemitter optionally may each emit brighter light upon the vehiclebraking. Such intensity may, for example, be achieved by poweringadditional light emitters and/or by controller the amount of power tothe light emitters (by resistors, diodes or otherwise) in the first area101, 201, 301, 401 and/or area 102, 202, 302, 402. Other features, asare conventional, may of course be provided such as power conductors 108(FIG. 7) and otherwise.

As used in the claims and the specification, the following terms havethe following definitions:

The term “activated upon” here means supplied with electrical powercaused by, or in response to, (directly or indirectly) some other eventor signal.

The term “amber” here means that color such as typically seen in a turnsignal. The term “clear” here means substantially non-colored so as tobe capable of transmitting substantially white light. Clear hereincludes not only crystal clear material, but also milky white material.Clear here includes not only transparent material, but also translucentmaterial. Clear also includes material with or without lenses, ridgesand prisms.

The term “color” here means the predominant light color (for example,red, amber, white, blue, green, yellow, purple, or otherwise) even if itis blended with some non-predominant light wave or frequency light.

The term “cover” here means something which is over, in the Z-axisdirection, some other structure. It includes one-piece parts,multi-piece parts, and multi-piece parts fused or otherwise attached toeach other.

The term “contiguous” here means adjacent or side by side.

The term “directly beneath” here means under something else (with orwithout intervening structure) in a Z-axis direction. Within thatmeaning, “directly” is not limited to any distance, close or far, suchas between light emitter and lens.

The term “Illuminated surface area” here means, per 49 C.F.R. §571.108,the Effective projected luminous lens area (EPLLA), which means the areaof the orthogonal projection of the effective light-emitting surface ofa lamp on a plane perpendicular to a defined direction relative to theaxis of reference. Unless otherwise specified, the direction iscoincident with the axis of reference, namely here the Z-axis.

The term “LED” here means light emitting diode, including single diodesas well as arrays of LED's and/or grouped light emitting diodes. Thiscan include the die and/or and LED film or other laminate, LED packages,said packages may include encapsulating material around a die, and thematerial, typically transparent, may or may not have color tintingand/or may or may not have a colored sub-cover. An LED can be a varietyof colors, shapes, sizes and designs, including with or without heatsinking, lenses, or reflectors, built into a package.

The term “light” here means light which is visible to the naked humaneye.

The term “light color” here means the predominant light color visible tothe naked human eye (for example, red, amber, white, blue, green,yellow, purple, or otherwise) even if it is blended with somenon-predominant light wave or frequency light.

The term “light emitter” here means a device or devices which whenelectrically energized give off light, such as a bulb or an LED, alone,in groups or rays or otherwise.

The term “light transmissive” here means permitting light to passthrough it, such as being transparent, translucent, with or withouttint, lenses, ridges and/or prisms.

The term, “multiple compartment lamp” here means, per 49 C.F.R.§571.108, a device which gives its indication by two or more separatelylighted areas which are joined by one or more common parts, such as ahousing or lens.

The term “red” here means that color such as typically seen in a STT.

The term “reverse” here means in the sense of placing a vehicle inreverse, or backwards, typically by engaging its transmission to moverearward.

The term “shaped” here means its geometric profile viewed from a Z-axisdirection.

The term, “single compartment lamp” here means a lamp device which isnot a multiple compartment lamp.

The terms “stop-tail-turn” lamp or “STT” here means a lamp which iscompliant with present legal and/or regulatory requirements in thiscountry such as illuminated surface area, candela, and otherwise.

The term “surrounded” here means around at least three quarters ofsomething else (see e.g. FIGS. 8A, 10A). Fully surrounded here means 360degrees around something else (see e.g. FIGS. 1, 8A).

The term “transmitted through” here means light after it has passedthrough a light transmissive member or members.

The term “vehicle” here means a self-propelled or towed device fortransportation, including without limitation, car, truck, bus, boat,tank or other military vehicle, airplane, truck trailer, truck cab, boattrailer, other trailer, emergency vehicle, and motorcycle.

The term “vehicle braking” here means in response to, directly orindirectly, applying a vehicle's foot brake to slow or stop the vehicle.

The term “X-axis” here means the geometric axis that is perpendicular tothe Z-axis and the Y-axis, normally horizontal when the lamp is mountedto a vehicle. Note, for example, in FIG. 1 the lamp is depictedhorizontally, with the X-axis horizontally (see FIG. 5). However, thelamp may be mounted otherwise, such as rotated ninety degrees in avertical orientation, in which case the X-axis and Y-axis areinterchanged.

The term “Y-axis” here means the geometric axis that is perpendicular tothe Z-axis and the X-axis, normally vertical when the lamp is mounted toa vehicle.

The term “Z-axis” here means the axis of reference, per 49 C.F.R.§571.108, namely the characteristic axis of the lamp for use as thedirection of reference (H=0°, V=0°) for angles of field for photometricmeasurements and for installing the lamp on the vehicle.

Articles and phases such as, “the”, “a”, “an”, “at least one”, and “afirst”, are not limited to mean only one, but rather are inclusive andopen ended to also include, optionally, two or more of such elements. Interms of the meaning of words herein, literally different elements orwords in dependent claims are not superfluous, and have differentmeaning and are not to be imported or implied or synonymous withelements or words in the claims from which they depend.

The language used in the claims and the written description and in theabove definitions is to only have its plain and ordinary meaning, exceptfor terms explicitly defined above. Such plain and ordinary meaning isdefined here as inclusive of all consistent dictionary definitions fromthe most recently published (on the filing date of this document)general purpose Webster's dictionaries and Random House dictionaries.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood thatonly the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that allchanges, equivalents, and modifications that come within the spirit ofthe inventions defined by following claims are desired to be protected.All publications, patents, and patent applications cited in thisspecification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individualpublication, patent, or patent application were specifically andindividually indicated to be incorporated by reference and set forth inits entirety herein.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A lamp for the rear of a vehicle, including: alight transmissive cover having a first illuminated surface area and asecond illuminated surface area; (a) said first area of said cover beinglight transmissive and being red in color; (1) a first light emitterlocated directly beneath said first area under said cover; (b) saidsecond area being light transmissive and being clear in color; (2) asecond light emitter, separate from said cover and from said first lightemitter, located directly beneath said clear second area under saidseparate cover, and not located beneath said first area, and, whereinsaid second light emitter emits white light; and (3) a third lightemitter, separate from said first and said second light emitters,located directly beneath said clear second area under said cover, andnot located beneath said first area, said third light emitter emittingred light through said clear second area; wherein said first and thirdlight emitters are operable simultaneously to as to present said firstand second illuminated surface areas as a contiguous red illuminatedsurface area.
 22. The lamp of claim 21, wherein said first and thirdlight emitters are operable independently of said second light emitter.23. The lamp of claim 21, wherein said first and second light emittersare operable simultaneously.
 24. The lamp of claim 23, wherein saidfirst and second light emitters are operable independently of said thirdlight emitter.
 25. The lamp of claim 21, wherein said first, second, andthird light emitters are operable simultaneously.
 26. The lamp of claim21, wherein said first light emitter is operable independently of saidsecond and third light emitters.
 27. The lamp of claim 21, wherein saidsecond light emitter is operable independently of said first and thirdlight emitters.
 28. The lamp of claim 21, wherein said second and thirdlight emitters emit light of different color.
 29. The lamp of claim 28,wherein said second light emitter emits white light.
 30. The lamp ofclaim 28, wherein said second light emitter emits amber light.
 31. Thelamp of claim 21, wherein said first, second, and third light emittersare LEDs.
 32. A method of using the lamp of claim 21, comprising:emitting light from the first light emitter through the first area ofthe light transmissive cover; and simultaneously emitting red light fromthe third light emitter through the clear second area so as to form acontiguous red illuminated surface across the first and second areas oflight transmissive cover.
 33. A method of using the lamp of claim 21,comprising: emitting light from the first light emitter through thefirst area of the light transmissive cover; and emitting light from thesecond light emitter through the clear second area.
 34. The method ofclaim 33, comprising: emitting light from the third light emitterthrough the clear second area.
 35. A method of using the lamp of claim21, comprising: emitting white light from the second light emitterthrough the clear second area.
 36. A method of using the lamp of claim21, comprising: emitting amber light from the second light emitterthrough the clear second area.
 37. A method of using a lamp for the rearof a vehicle, comprising: emitting light from a first light emitterthrough a first illuminated surface area of a light transmissive coverof the lamp, the first illuminated surface area being light transmissiveand being red in color; emitting light from a second light emitterthrough a second illuminated surface area of the light transmissivecover, the second illuminated surface area being light transmissive andbeing clear in color.
 38. The method of claim 37, wherein: emittinglight from the first light emitter is activated upon the vehicle headlamps being activated.
 39. The method of claim 37, wherein: emittinglight from the first light emitter is activated upon the vehiclebraking.
 40. The method of claim 37, wherein: emitting light from thefirst light emitter upon the vehicle braking emits brighter light thanthe first light emitter when vehicle head lamps are activated.